Gas cell for rigid airships



Jan. 22, 1929.

HR. LIEBERT ET AL GAS CELL FOR RIGID AIRSHIPS Filed Oct. 24, 1927 1 Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HERMAN RICHARD LIEBERT AND EUGEN SCI-IOETTEL, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO GOODYEAR ZEPPELIN CORPORATION, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GAS CELL FOR RIGID AIRS'HITES.

Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,137.

Our invention relates to dirigible airships and it has particular relation to a novel construction and arrangement of gas cells disposed within the hulls of rigid airships.

One object of the invention is to provide an airship in which the gas cells are so arranged therein as to insure minimum shifting of the lifting or other gases under various conditions of aerial navigation.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an airship in which at least two sets of gas cells are employed which are so associated with respect to the airship hull and the main rings, and so inflated that they tend to maintain their normal position within the airship hull, regardless of whether or not the airship is in an inclined position or in a horizontal position.

Rigid airships comprise transverse frames or so-called main rings, which sub-divide the hull construction into compartments that ordinarily define the shape and size of the lifting gas cells employed. Since the number of main rings mustibe limited, and since modern airships may be relatively large, the gas cells, in order to conform in size to the space between the main rings, in some cases, would assume sizes too large for practical purposes. Under these conditions, when the airshipassumes an inclined position, the gas pressure becomes effective against the bulkheads, which are usually secured to the main rings in the medial planes thereof. The. gas pressure bulges the bulk heads outwardly axially of the main rings and thus imposes undesirable radial forces thereon. This action of the gas, wherein it shifts toward one end or the other of the airship, according to the direction of inclination thereof, dislocates the center of the buoyancy with respect to the centerof gravity of the airship. Such shifting of the gas materially interferes with the proper navigation of the airship.

The novel construction and arrangement of gas cells, according to this invention, includes gas cells disposed between the several main rings, and additional gas cells arranged circumferentially within the main rings and extendin or bulging axially on opposite sides thereof against the first mentioned gas cells. The gas cells disposed between the main rings substantially surround those disposed within the main rings. The circumferences of the enclosed gas cells within the main rings are approxlmately equal to the inner circumferences of the several main rings. I Instead of employing only one bulkhead at each mam ring, two of them are provided whlch enclose the gas cell at the main ring and are secured to the inner circumferential portlon of the latter. In the event it is not desirable to employ such bulkheads, the end or axial walls of the gas cells should be constructed sufficiently strong to be able to serve as bulkheads.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accomaanylng drawings, forming a part of this spec fication, of which;

F g. 1 is a diagrammatical longitudinal sectional view of an air-ship illustrating a plurality of gas cells arranged according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View, on a larger scale, showing a portion of the airship illustrated by Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is across-sectional view taken substantially along the line TIL-III of Fig. 2.

An airship embodying the invention comprises a hull 10 having main rings or trans- .verse. frames 11 constituting the principal parts of the superstructure thereof. Gas

cells 12 disposed between several of the main rings 11 engage bulkheads 13 which are Connected to the circumferential portions of the mam rings, as indicated at 14f, and are composed of netting fabric, wires, or other suitable material. These bulkheads are substantially conical and enclose gas cells 15 of conical shape, which are secured to the inner circumferential connections 14 0f the main rings and they normally bulge, together with thebulkheads, axially on opposite sides thereof. The apexes of the bulkheads are connected directly to each other between the ,main rings,'as indicated at 16, or they may be spaced and connected by means of a cable or cord. 17. In the latter construction, a sleeve 18 is formed centrally of the gas cell 12, or an opening 19, serving substantially the same purpose, may be employed to surround the first mentioned connection 16.

. The gas-cells 15 are inflated with lifting gas to a greater degree than the gas cells 12, and. consequently they may assume a somewhat outwardly curved shape. They also serve, together with the bulkheads 13, to maintain the gas cells 12 in their proper positions. For the sake of convenience, the gas cells 15 will hereinafter be referred to as high pressure gas cells, while the gas cells 12 will be referred to as low pressure gas cells.

Gas cells 22, similar to the gas cells 12, are also arranged between several of the main rings. Gas cells 23 of substantially ellipsoidal shape, are secured, as indicted at 24, to the inner circumferential portions of severalof the main rings 11. The gas cells22 and 23 are separated by similarly shaped bulkheads 25 which are secured, at the connections 24-, to the main rings 11 int-he same manner as the bulkheads 13.

The gas within the cells .23 is maintained under higher pressure than the gas within the cells 22. A blower or similar mechanism 26 is provided with conduits 27 and 28 which communicate with the interior of adjacent cells 22 and 23 and serves to transfer gas from the cell 22 to the cell Also, an overflow valve 29, having ahose or similar connection 32 to the cell 22 automatically permits the escape of gas from-the cell 23 into the cell 22 when the gas within the former cell has expanded or is otherwise compressed to a predetermined degree.

If desirable, a partition 33 of substantially thesame shape as approximately one-half of one of the gas cells 23, is disposed therein and serves to form, in conjunction with the cell, gas containers 34 and 35; Either the upper or thelowerhalf of the cell may serve as a fuelgas or maneuvering gas container depending upon the characteristics of the gases. It is apparent that each container 34 or 35 is adapted to be inflated with lifting gas, or with any other gas, includingair. Also, if desirable, the gas cells may be curved sufficiently in an axial direction to engage each other tangentially, as indicated at 36, or they may be provided with connect-ions of the same nature as those shown at 16 and 17.

In the event it is desirable to dispense with the bulkheads 13 and 25, the transverse Walls of the gas cells will be constructedvof relatively strong material. Since the gas cells 12 and 22 substantially encloseand aresupported by the gas cells 15and 23, respectively, the latter can be constructed ofrelatively light material.

As a rule, during the operation of a c011- ventional airship, the gas cells are only partially inflated. In the construction disclosed by this application, it is proposed to maintain the gas cells 15 and 23 almost entirely inflated in order that the center of buoyancy of the entire airship may remain as nearly fixed as possible. When the airship is ascending, the gas expands and usually escapes to the atmosphere through conventional safety valves. We have provided such. safety valves, as indicated at 37. According to this invention, the overflow valves 29 permit the gas to flow into the low pressure cells 12 and 22 from the high pressure cells 15 and-23 when-the gas in the latter'has been soexpanded or compressed as to attain a predetermined pressure. lVhen the low pressuregas cells 12 and 22 have been inflated until a predetermined pressure has been attaii'ied, a portion of the gas will then escape through the conventional safety valves 37. After the airship has descended, the original ratio of gaspressure within the respective cells is re-established by means of the blower 26.

From the foregoing description, it will be sume and have described those forms in detail, it willbe apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing fronrthe spirit of the invention .OI from the scope of the appended claims.

What-we claim is: l

1. A rigid airship comprising ahull having spacedtransverse'ly disposed main rings therein, gas cells disposedbetween adjacent main rings and additional gas cells disposed within and connected to the inner circumferential portions of the respective main rings.

-2. A rigid airship comprising ahull having spaced'transversely disposed main rings therei11,-gas cells disposed between adjacent main rings, and an additional gas cell disposed within and connected totheinner circumferential portion of one ofthe main rings,

by the firstinentioned gas cells disposed on opposite sides thereof. j

3. A rigid airship com 'irising a hull hav- .ing spaced transversely disposed main rings "tllGlQlIl, gas cells disposed between adjacent mainrings, an additional gas'cell disposed Within the inner circumference of oneof the main rings, and bulkheads secured to the inner circumferential portion of the last men tioned main ring for supportingand separating the transverse walls of the contiguous gascells.

4. A'ri-gidairship comprising a hull hat *thelat-ter gas cell being substantially enclosed ing spaced transversely disposed main rings therein, the latter defining compartments, gas cells disposed between adjacent main rings, an additional gas cell disposed within the inner circumference of each main ring, bulkheads secured to the inner circlumferential portion of the main ring, the cen tral portion of the bulkheads extending into adjacent compartments, and means for connecting together adjacent extending portions of the bulkheads.

5. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed main rings therein, the latter defining compartments, gas cells disposed between the adjacent main rings additional gas cells disposed within the inner circumference of each main ring, and bulkheads of conical shape separating the gas cells and secured to the inner circumferential port-ions of the main rings, the apeXes of the bulkheads being directly connected together.

6. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed main rings therein, gas cells disposed between adjacent main rings and additional gas cells having their upper and lower portions connected to the inner circumferential portions of the respective main rings, each additional gas cell, when inflated, bulging axially on opposite sides of the main rings and assuming substantially a tangential relation with respect to the inner circumference of each respective main ring.

7. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed between the main rings, an additional gas cell disposed within the circumferential portions of the main rings, the additional gas cells being of such shape that their larger circumferential portions are disposed tangentially to the inner circumferential portion of the main rings, and means for connecting the last mentioned gas cells to the inner circumferential portions of the main rings.

8. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed between the main rings, and an additional gas cell disposed within and connected to the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings and extending axially on opposite sides of the latter, the extending portions of the additional gas cell being'substantially enclosed by the adjacent first mentioned gas cells.

9. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed between the main rings, an additional gas cell disposed within the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings, and a partition dividing the last mentioned gas cell into compart ments having gas of different characteristics therein.

10. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed between the main rings, an additional gas cell disposed within the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings and a partition in the last mentioned gas cell having a contour corresponding to substantially one half thereof.

11.. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed between the main rings, an additional gas cell disposed within and connected to the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings and a fuel gas container forming a part of and included within the last mentioned gas cell.

12. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein, gas cells disposed within the main rings, an additional gas cell within the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings, and a blower mechanism communicating with adjacent gas cells for discharging gas from one of the first mentioned gas cells into the second mentioned gas cell.

1.3. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed rigid main rings therein gas cells disposed within the ill! main rings, an additional gas cell within the inner circumferential portion of one of the main rings, a blower mechanism communicating with adjacent gas cells for discharging gas from one of the first mentioned gas cells into the second mentioned gas cell, and an overflow valve communicating with one of the first mentioned gas cells and the second mentioned gas cell for admitting surplus gas from one of the gas cells into another.

14. The combination with a hull of a rigid airship having spaced main rings therein, the inner circumference of the main rings being materially less than the inner circumference of the adjacent portions of the hull, of gas cells disposed between the main rings and engaging the hull, and additional gas cells disposed within the inner circumferential portions of the main rings and having maximum circumferences engaging the minimum circumferences of the main rings respectively.

15. A rigid airship comprising a hull having spaced transversely disposed main rings therein, gas cells disposed between adjacent main rings, and an additional gas cell disposed within the inner circumference of one of the main rings, the latter gas cell being substantially enclosed by the first mentioned a. cells disposed on opposite sides thereof, the walls of the enclosed'gas cell being composed of material sufficiently strong to enable the gas cell itself to resist the gas pressure.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

HERMAN RICHARD LIEBERT. EUGEN SCHOETTEL. I 

